(The Center Square) – A handful of the nearly 300 new laws going into effect Jan. 1 impact parents.
Senate Bill 3136 allows drug-addicted mothers, who give birth to babies whose toxicology screens come back positive, to maintain their parental rights. Opponents say that’s dangerous and subverts accountability. State Sen. Steve McClure, R-Springfield, urged a “no” vote on the Senate floor.
“These are tools not to punish mom, but these are tools for the best interest of these children. This [punitive provision] is to help mom and motivate mom to get better,” said McClure.
Proponents say the law will incentivize drug-addicted pregnant women to seek out prenatal care and treatment recovery programs.
Also going into effect, House Bill 5097 requires the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services to provide caregivers with the necessary training and resources to ensure kids receive culturally competent hair care. Some Republicans said that could get costly for foster parents and the taxpayers.
State Sen. Dave Syverson, R-Cherry Valley, urged a “no” vote.
“We are going to teach children in grade school that hair-care plays, as the legislation puts it, an important role in a child’s identity and self-worth,” said Syverson. “Being taught that self worth is based on external items such as hair, clothes or the right shoes is what’s creating emotionally and mentally shallow children. It’s no wonder why so many children are suffering from [low] self esteem, depression and feeling of self worth.”
Proponents, like Senate Majority Leader Kimberly Lightford, D-Maywood, said children who are in the system could perceive their hair as their “strength.”
House Bill 4271 allows anyone 17 years of age or older to donate blood without the permission or authorization of their parents.
Parental consent used to be required for donors 17 years of age. No legislators voted against the measure.
Also going into effect Jan. 1 is Senate Bill 3232, which requires hospitals to provide parents who relinquished a newborn infant with contact information of the child welfare agency that received custody of the relinquished infant.
The bill’s sponsor, state Rep. Ann Williams, D-Chicago, answered questions from state Rep. Patrick Windhorst, R-Metropolis, on the House floor about the 30-day timeframe parents have to get the agency contact information.
“What we have heard, and I’ll allow you to address their concerns, is that those [adoption] advocates believe it is better for newborns to have the stability of staying with adoptive parents, and increasing this time frame will impact that,” said Windhorst.
Williams said the measure provides parity with how it’s handled at fire stations, EMS stations and other places.
“You generally don’t abandon your infant unless you are in crisis,” answered Williams. “So this window of time allows that crisis to be handled and the person to return. I think that’s the philosophy behind providing that window of time.”
Also going into effect Jan. 1 is Senate Bill 3207. The bill’s sponsor in the House was former state Rep. Randy Frese, R-Paloma.
“It provides that a day care center may operate for 24 hours or longer and may provide care for a child for a period of up to 12 hours if the parent or guardian of the child is employed in a position that requires regularly scheduled shifts and a 10-hour period elapses between day care visits,” said Frese.
State Sen. Jil Tracy, R-Quincy, said the goal of the bill is to provide flexibility to shift workers.
